I’m leading a workshop at Columbafest, a seasonal celebration of faith, culture politics and creativity in Glasgow marking the anniversary of St Columba’s death on June 9-11 2017.

From the Wild Goose Resource Group’s website:

ColumbaFest is a weekend festival at the anniversary of St Columba’s death. St Columba is the holy man who came from Ireland to settle on the island of Iona, and in time, established the religious settlement there. He christianised Scotland; and the mission work of his followers spread out from there to reach parts of central and southern Europe.

During the festival, workshops and other events will explore themes from Columba’s life, such as learning, mission, exile, prayer, spirituality and political engagement. And in echoes of his and the Celtic Church’s emphasis on incarnation, we’ll explore issues that are of importance in the contemporary context and culture of Scotland, and which have broader resonance further afield.

My session is called In the Waterscape of St Columba: Radical Discipleship in Stormy Times: The lives of the saints are not simply pious stories to be admired, but blueprints of possible ways of being in the world. Columba’s time and place seem distant, but by drawing out startling and often hidden resonances- and connections between Iona and the Clyde- we can draw closer than we might expect. We may find the encouragement and hope we need to navigate the ominous waters we inhabit today can be drawn from the same deep sources that inspired these unreasonable monks to set out on their mission with no strength or security other than their faith.

Tickets and booking information available here: Columbafest